Plaza Theatre & Downtown El Paso

The Plaza Theatre is the jewel of downtown El Paso. Opened in 1930 as one of the grand movie palaces of the Southwest, it was built in a Spanish Colonial Revival style, with an ornate lobby, a reflecting pool, decorative tilework and an auditorium whose ceiling glitters with stars and drifting clouds. The theater fell on hard times in the late twentieth century and nearly met the wrecking ball, but a community campaign saved it, and a major restoration returned it to something close to its original glory. Today it hosts concerts, Broadway tours, ballet, comedy and film, and it is the anchor of a downtown arts district that has been steadily coming back to life. The theatre's centerpiece is a Mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ, which rises on a lift and still accompanies silent films and special events.

The best way to see the building is to attend an event. Check the calendar for touring musicals, symphony performances, classic film screenings and holiday shows. The Plaza Classic Film Festival, held each summer, fills the auditorium with beloved movies, often introduced by local historians and followed by receptions, and it is one of the best-loved cultural events in the city.

Guided tours of the theatre are sometimes offered and include the lobby, the auditorium and behind-the-scenes spaces, so check with the venue for current options. Even if you cannot attend a show, the exterior marquee and the lobby are worth a look.

A short walk takes you to San Jacinto Plaza, the historic heart of downtown. The plaza was once famous for the live alligators that lived in its pond until the 1960s, and a sculpture now recalls them. Surrounding streets contain early twentieth-century hotels, banks and commercial buildings, many of them by the architect Henry Trost, whose work gave El Paso a distinctive skyline.

A self-guided walk can include the Hotel Paso del Norte, the Mills Building, the Camino Real district and the corridor toward the Santa Fe Street bridge, with plenty of stops for tacos, coffee and street art. The area is quiet on Sunday mornings and lively before and after events.

Practical planning is simple. Arrive early for evening shows to see the lobby and the stars overhead, and use nearby garages or the streetcar-era parking lots after dark. Downtown has improved considerably with new restaurants, a baseball stadium, a convention center and revitalized parks, so it is easy to build an evening around dinner and a show.

Dress is casual to smart casual. Pair the Plaza with the Museum of Art, the Chihuahuas game or a ghost tour, and you have a full downtown day. For many visitors, an hour in the Plaza Theatre is a quiet highlight of the trip.

For an easy evening, combine an early dinner at a nearby restaurant with a show, then walk back to your hotel through the lit streets. Photography of the lobby is usually fine before events, but check the venue's rules for the auditorium. If you love classic film, look for the summer festival schedule, which often includes family favorites and cult classics. Accessibility features are available in many historic theaters, but call ahead if you need specific seating or assistance, and arrive early so you have time to find your seats and look around.